Physiological Measurements and Transcriptomics Reveal the Fitness Costs of Monochamus saltuarius to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

The pine wood nematode (PWN) uses several Monochamus species as vehicles, through a temporary hitchhiking process known as phoresy, enabling it to access new host plant resources. Monochamus saltuarius acts as a new and major vector of the PWN in Northeastern China, showing lower PWN carrying capacity and a shorter transmission cycle compared to established vectors. The apparently altered symbiotic relationship offers an interesting area for researching the costs and adaptions involved in nematode-beetle, a specialized phoresy. We analyzed the response and fitness costs of M. saltuarius through physiological measurements and transcriptomics. The PWN exerted adverse repercussions on the growth and development of M. saltuarius. The PWN accelerated larval development into pupae, while beetle adults carrying the PWN exhibited an elevated abnormality rate and mortality, and reduced starvation resistance. During the pupal stage, the expression of growth-related genes, including ecdysone-inducible genes (E74EA), cuticle proteins, and chitin genes (CHTs), markedly increased. Meanwhile, the induced immune response, mainly by the IMD and Toll signaling pathways, could be a contributing factor to adult abnormality and mortality. Adult gonads and trachea exhibited enrichment in pathways related to fatty acid elongation, biosynthesis, and metabolism. FASN, ELOVL, and SCD possibly contributed to resistance against PWN. Our research indicated that phoretic interactions between vector beetles and PWN vary throughout the vector's lifespan, particularly before and after entry into the trachea. This study highlighted the fitness costs of immunity and metabolism on the vector beetle, indicating the adaptation mechanisms and evolutionary trade-offs to PWN.

Distribution of phoretic mites and lice in Pseudolynchia canariensis living on pigeons and the relationship with seasonality, carrier sex, plumage coloration and age of definitive hosts.

Among the parasites, some groups that have a limited capacity for locomotion, such as mites and lice, the transmission is challenging to win. These ectoparasites disperse through direct contact between hosts or, in some cases, through phoresy. However, these processes are not well-documented in detail because they are difficult to observe and quantify. In the present study, the patterns of distribution of skin mites and phoretic lice on hippoboscid louse fly Pseudolynchia canariensis sampled from Columba livia were evaluated. The analyzed pigeons were juveniles and adults, with three distinct plumage colors: blue checker, spread, or wild type, and were caught over 24 months. A total of 1,381 hippoboscid flies were collected on 377 hosts. The plumage color did not influence the infestation patterns of louse flies on juvenile and adult pigeons, nor did it influence the infestation patterns of skin mites and phoretic lice on the hippoboscid flies. However, the environmental temperature was directly related to higher prevalence, mean infestation intensity, and phoretic species richness on P. canariensis during the hottest seasons. Furthermore, a higher abundance of phoretic mite eggs, including embryonated eggs, was observed in females of P. canariensis in all seasons.

Phoretic behavior of the pseudoscorpion Megachernes ryugadensis on the Japanese wood mouse Apodemus speciosus.

Phoresy is a passive transportation behavior where one organism (phoront) disperses to a new location by attaching to another organism. Pseudoscorpions are arthropod predators that mainly live in soil, subterranean habitats, and under tree bark. Some species also live in animal nests and engage in phoresy on small mammals, suggesting close associations with these animals. However, the relationship between phoretic pseudoscorpions and hosts as well as the ecological significance of phoresy remain largely unexplored. Here, to understand the function of phoresy of Megachernes ryugadensis, phoretic on small mammals, their phoretic behavior was investigated in a deciduous forest in northern Japan; individual-level dynamics of phoresy were examined by over 3-year mark-recapture surveys that concurrently marked the host and phoront; and host characteristics, such as sex and age class, were analyzed based on a 2-year small mammal trapping survey. The primary host species was the abundant Japanese wood mouse Apodemus speciosus. Out of 132 pseudoscorpions marked, 5 were recaptured approximately 1 month later. No pseudoscorpions were recaptured within the same census period (3-4 days) when they were marked, indicating that phoresy events last less than one night, and pseudoscorpions are unlikely to engage in phoresy again within a few weeks of their initial engagement. Furthermore, analysis of host characteristics revealed a tendency for female mice and adult individuals to have a higher probability of being hosts compared with males and subadults, respectively. Based on the findings in this and previous studies, the function of phoresy in this species is discussed.

Feeding-induced plant metabolite responses to a phoretic gall mite, its carrier psyllid and both, after detachment.

Phoresy is one of the most distinctive relationships between mites and insects, and the off-host interaction between phoretic mites and their carriers is the most critical factor sustaining the phoretic association. As phoretic associations commonly occur in temporary habitats, little is known about off-host interactions between phoronts and carriers. However, an off-host interaction has been reported, in which the plant-mediated competition between a phoretic gall mite, Aceria pallida, and its psyllid vector, Bactericera gobica, after detachment decreases leaf abscission caused by B. gobica and then directly facilitates their phoretic association. In this obligate phoresy, A. pallida seasonally attaches to B. gobica for overwinter survival and they share the same host plant, Lycium barbarum, during the growing season. It is unknown how the host plant responds to these two herbivores and what plant metabolites are involved in their interspecific interaction. Here, effects of A. pallida and B. gobica on the host plant's transcriptome and metabolome, and on enzymes involved in plant defence, at various infestation stages were studied by inoculating A. pallida and B. gobica either separately or simultaneously on leaves of L. barbarum. Our results showed that (a) A. pallida significantly promoted primary and secondary metabolite accumulation, (b) B. gobica markedly inhibited primary and secondary metabolite accumulation and had little influence on defence enzyme activity, and (c) under simultaneous A. pallida and B. gobica infestation, an intermediate response was predicted. These findings indicate that A. pallida and B. gobica have different effects on host plants, A. pallida inhibits B. gobica mainly by increasing the secondary metabolism of L. barbarum, whereas B. gobica inhibits A. pallida mainly by decreasing the primary metabolism of L. barbarum. In conjunction with our previous research, we speculate that this trade-off in host plant metabolite response between A. pallida and B. gobica after detachment promotes a stable phoretic association.

Body size-dependent effects on the distribution patterns of phoretic mite species assemblages on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790).

Phoretic mites attach to different body parts of the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), to disperse. However, the question of how the patterns of attachment sites are formed remains intriguing. Here, we examined RPW-associated phoretic mites in four districts in Northern Portugal (macrohabitat), and investigated the patterns of mite distribution on six body parts of RPW (microhabitat). At the macrohabitat level, we detected seven phoretic mite taxa using the RPW host in each of the four studied districts, all documented for the first time in association with this invasive exotic species in Portugal. However, their relative abundance (species evenness) varied between districts, as did species diversity. All examined weevils carried mites, and the prevalence of the different taxa did not differ between districts or sex of weevils. Measured by mean abundance and degree of aggregation, Centrouropoda sp. proved to be the dominant taxon, while Acarus sp. and Curculanoetus rhynchophorus were considered common subordinate taxa and Uroovobella sp., Mesostigmata, Nenteria extremica and Dendrolaelaps sp. sparse taxa. At the microhabitat level, all taxa were present on all body parts of the RPW; the highest abundance was in a region encompassing the inner surface of the elytra and the membranous hind wings (subelytral space). Analysis of niche overlap revealed that the distribution patterns of phoretic mite taxa on the RPW were not randomly structured. In the subelytral space, interspecific coexistence of mites increased as a function of body size difference with the dominant Centrouropoda sp. We found that in the subelytral space the large dominant species Centrouropoda sp. displaced the larger species Uroobovella sp. and the similarly sized species Nenteria extremica, but coexisted with smaller taxa.

Tardigrade stowaways: Literature review of Propyxidium tardigradum (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) and its first record in Scotland.

Tardigrades are a phylum of microscopic invertebrates with a global distribution. Although our understanding of their systematic position and taxonomy has increased and continues to grow, their relationship with the other organisms that share their habitat remains poorly studied. One such organism is Propyxidium tardigradum, a peritrich ciliate which uses tardigrades for dispersion and as a substrate for reproduction. Here, we present the first Scottish record and tenth global occurrence of Propyxidium tardigradum, thereby expanding our knowledge of its poorly understood zoogeographic distribution. We also summarise the literature concerning P. tardigradum biology, proffer hypotheses regarding the Propyxidium-tardigrade relationship, and the apparent lack of heterotardigrade ciliate infestation. Additionally, we indicate a number of recommendations for the direction of future studies regarding the ciliate. Finally, we add a further three species, Milnesium variefidum, Hypsibius cf. scabropygus and Macrobiotus scoticus to the list of Propyxidium host species.

Integrative Taxonomy Approach Reveals Cryptic Diversity within the Phoretic Pseudoscorpion Genus Lamprochernes (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae).

Pseudoscorpions represent an ancient, but homogeneous group of arachnids. The genus Lamprochernes comprises several morphologically similar species with wide and overlapping distributions. We implemented an integrative approach combining molecular barcoding (cox1), with cytogenetic and morphological analyses in order to assess species boundaries in European Lamprochernes populations. The results suggest ancient origins of Lamprochernes species accompanied by morphological stasis within the genus. Our integrative approach delimited three nominal Lamprochernes species and one cryptic lineage Lamprochernes abditus sp. nov. Despite its Oligocene origin, L. abditus sp. nov. can be distinguished from its closest relative only by molecular and cytogenetic differences, or alternatively, by a complex multivariate morphometric analysis involving other Lamprochernes species. The population structure and common haplotype sharing across geographically distant populations in most Lamprochernes species suggest that a phoretic manner of dispersal is efficient in this group.

Ectoparasitism of the Flightless Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei by the Mite Blattisocius mali (Acari: Blattisociidae).

Predatory mites dispersing by means of insects are often ectoparasites and may use various tactics to get onto the host, counteract its defenses, and diminish its survival. Blattisocius mali is a promising biological control agent which has been reported as transported by several drosophilid species. Our goal was to determine the type of relationship between this mite and fruit flies. We used flightless females of Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei, which were commercially raised as live pet food. The predatory females mostly attacked the tarsi of the flies and then preferentially moved to the cervix or close to coxa III, where they eventually drilled their chelicerae and started feeding. Although both fly species used similar defensive tactics, more B. mali females did not attack D. hydei or did so with a delay, and a higher percentage of mites fell off the D. hydei tarsi during the first hour of observation. After 24 h, we noted the increased mortality of flies exposed to the presence of mites. Our study indicates the ectoparasitic relationship of B. mali with drosophilids. However, further research is needed to confirm the transport of this mite on wild D. hydei and D. melanogaster, both in the laboratory and under natural conditions.

Quantitative assessment of the dispersal of soil-dwelling oribatid mites via rodents in restored heathlands.

Heathland restoration using topsoil removal requires the re-colonization of above- and belowground communities. Oribatid mites play a key role in the comminution of organic matter and are frequently early colonizers during succession despite their limited mobility. Whereas the assembly of their communities may take decades, passive dispersal likely dominates colonization processes, but especially dispersal via other animals (phoresy) remains poorly studied. Compared to other potential hosts, movement habits and ecology of small rodents may provide dispersal advantages to oribatid communities. We studied dispersal of oribatid mites via small rodents in restored heathland sites of different age. We measured movement patterns of small rodents and extracted mites from their pelts and nests to estimate annual contributions of these rodents to the dispersal of oribatids. We also discussed phoretic estimates reported on other host groups as a reference. Probability estimates of oribatids in pelts and nests showed lower occurrence frequencies compared to other reported phoretic hosts. However, local rodent communities may aid the dispersal of up to 41,000 oribatid mites per year. We highlight the high diversity of oribatid species mounting rodents, unlike strong species-specific filters reported in other passive pathways. We found that over half (58%) of the oribatid species reproduced asexually and over a third (32%) had a soil-dwelling lifestyle. We also observed that rodents often travel short distances below 40 m, but occasionally reach distances of up to 100 m, especially in earlier successional stages. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that rodents may contribute to assembly processes of soil-dwelling oribatid communities given the slow turnover rate of this group in heathlands. This is accomplished through short-distance dispersal, and especially in sites at early stages of succession. To our knowledge, we are the first to quantitatively assess the potential dispersal of oribatid mites via rodents.

First Interaction Network of Sarcosaprophagous Fauna (Acari and Insecta) Associated with Animal Remains in a Mediterranean Region (Northern Spain).

The potential of insects for forensic investigations has been known for more than 700 years. However, arthropods such as mites could also play a role in these investigations. The information obtained from insects, together with their phoretic mites, is of special interest in terms of estimating the time and geographical location of death. This paper presents the first interaction network between phoretic mites and their host insects in Navarra. It also reports the first time that an interaction network was applied to animal remains of forensic relevance. The data reveal the degrees of specificity of the interactions established, the biological and ecological characteristics of the mites at the time of association, and factors that played important roles in the mites' dispersion. Fauna was collected using 657 traps baited with 20 g of pig carrion over a year. Only 0.6% of insects collected carried phoretic mites. The network comprised 312 insects (275 beetles, 37 flies) and 1533 mites and was analyzed using various packages of the R programming language. We contribute new host insect records for 15 mites, 3 new records of insects as hosts, 5 new mite records for the Iberian Peninsula, and 2 new mites records and 8 new insect records for Navarra.

The mite Acarus farris inducing defensive behaviors and reducing fitness of termite Coptotermes formosanus: implications for phoresy as a precursor to parasitism.

BACKGROUND: The ecology and evolution of phoretic mites and termites have not been well studied. In particular, it is unknown whether the specific relationship between mites and termites is commensal or parasitic. High phoretic mite densities have often been found to occur in weak termite colonies, suggesting that the relationship is closer to that of parasitism than commensalism. RESULTS: To examine this, Coptotermes formosanus was used as a carrier, and Acarus farris as the phoretic mite. We used video recordings to observe termite social immunity behaviors and bioassay to examine termite fitness. Our results showed that the attachment of the mite on the termite can enhance termite social immunity behaviors like alarm vibration and grooming frequency while decreasing the duration of individual grooming episodes in phoretic mites. Further, A. farris phoresy led to a 22.91% reduction in termite abdomen volume and a 3.31-fold increase in termite mortality. CONCLUSIONS: When termites groom more frequently, the consequence is short duration of grooming bouts. This may be indicative of a trade-off which provides suggestive evidence that frequent social behaviors may cost termites energy. And this caused phoretic behavior hastened termites' death, and helped propagate the population of mites feeding on dead termites. So, it provides a case for phoresy being a precursor to parasitism, and the specific relationship between A. farris and C. formosanus is closer to parasitism than to commensalism.

New qPCR protocol to detect Diplodia corticola shows phoretic association with the oak pinhole borer Platypus cylindrus.

BACKGROUND: Botryosphaeria canker (causal agent: Diplodia corticola) is considered one of the most important diseases of cork oak (Quercus suber) stands since it necrotizes the subero-phellodermic layer preventing cork regeneration after harvesting. One of the most intriguing etiological issues of this disease is its plausible spreading through trunk borer insects. In this study, we highlight the phoretic relationship between D. corticola and the oak pinhole borer Platypus cylindrus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) which massively colonizes debarked cork oaks in southern Europe. We extracted DNA from 154 adults of P. cylindrus collected in six cork oak stands in north-eastern Spain during the summer of 2021. We developed a new nested quantitative PCR-based protocol for quick detection of D. corticola carried by insects. RESULTS: The use of real time amplification of a highly specific mitochondrial marker allowed us to detect spore loads down to a single conidium within the first 29 cycles of qPCR. The 29.62% of insect pools (corresponding to 31.16% of studied insects) resulted in an estimated spore load higher than one conidium/insect, with a moderate value of mean spore load for the whole dataset (~33 conidia/insect). Estimated spore load was significantly higher in May and August, regardless of insect abundance in the field. CONCLUSION: This study provides new tools for diagnosis of this emergent pathogen that would be useful for developing monitoring strategies and epidemiological studies. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Association of Fig Pollinating Wasps and Fig Nematodes inside Male and Female Figs of a Dioecious Fig Tree in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Nematodes can grow within the inflorescences of many fig trees (Ficus spp., Moraceae); however, the feeding behaviour of most nematodes is not known. Fig pollinating wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) transfer nematodes into young figs upon the wasps' entry into the figs to deposit their eggs. Most Asian fig trees, however, are functionally dioecious, and the pollinating wasps that enter female figs are unable to reproduce. They fail to produce the offspring required to carry the new generations of nematodes. We examined whether female figs of F. hispida can nonetheless support the development of phoretic nematode populations. Nematodes were extracted from male and female figs sampled in Sumatra, Indonesia, to compare the growth of their populations within the figs. We found three species of nematodes that grew within figs of male and female trees of F. hispida: Ficophagus cf. centerae (Aphelenchoididae), Martininema baculum (Aphelenchoididae) and Caenorhabditis sp (Rhabditidae). The latter species (Caenorhabditis sp.) has never been reported to be associated with F. hispida before. Nematode populations peaked at around 120-140 individuals in both sexes of figs, at the time when a succeeding generation of adult fig wasps appeared within male figs. The female figs could support the growth and reproduction of the three nematodes species; however, the absence of vectors meant that female figs remained as traps from which there could be no escape.

Dispersal patterns of oribatid mites across habitats and seasons.

Oribatid mites are tiny arthropods that are common in all soils of the world; however, they also occur in microhabitats above the soil such as lichens, mosses, on the bark of trees and in suspended soils. For understanding oribatid mite community structure, it is important to know whether they are dispersal limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of oribatid mite dispersal using Malaise traps to exclude sole passive wind-dispersal. Oribatid mite communities were collected over a 3-year period from five habitat types (coniferous forests, deciduous forests, mixed forests, meadows, bog/heathlands sites) and three seasons (spring, summer, autumn) in Sweden. Mites entered traps either by walking or by phoresy, i.e., by being attached to flying insects. We hypothesized (1) that oribatid mite communities in the traps differ between habitats, indicating habitat-limited dispersal, and (2) that oribatid mite communities differ among seasons suggesting that dispersal varies due to changing environmental conditions such as moisture or resource availability. The majority of the collected species were not typically soil-living species but rather from habitats such as trees, lichens and mosses (e.g., Carabodes labyrinthicus, Cymbaeremaeus cymba, Diapterobates humeralis and Phauloppia lucorum) indicating that walking into the traps or entering them via phoresy are of greater importance for aboveground than for soil-living species. Overall, oribatid mite communities collected in the traps likely originated from the surrounding local habitat suggesting that long distance dispersal of oribatid mites is scarce. Significant differences among seasons indicate higher dispersal during warm and dry periods of the year. Notably, 16 species of oribatid mites collected in our study were sampled for the first time in Sweden. This study also demonstrates that Malaise traps are a meaningful tool to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of oribatid mite communities.

Detection of bloodworm larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1819) (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) in Metro Manila

Background@#Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1819) is an invasive freshwater snail in the Philippines that damages crops but is consumed as food. It is known to harbor parasites, some of which are pathogenic to humans. @*Objectives@#The objective of this study is to examine P. canaliculata individuals present in Metro Manila for parasite infection and identify the parasites and other organisms associated with the snail using molecular identification. @*Methodology@#P. canaliculata were collected from rivers and marketplaces in Metro Manila. Individuals were crushed and digested in Ash's digestive fluid and observed under a microscope. Collected parasites were subjected to DNA barcoding of the COI gene for putative identification. @*Results@#A total of 462 snails were gathered from 15 sites, eight of which were market areas that sourced the snails from outside Metro Manila. No known parasites were found. Two snails were found to contain insect larvae in the mantle (0.43% infection). The closest BLAST matches for the two insect larvae were the chironomid fly Nilodorum tainanus (91.0% identity) from a snail in Sucat, Muntinlupa, and another chironomid Parachironomus sp. (92.8% identity) found in a snail originally from Cavite and brought to Calumpang, Marikina. @*Conclusion@#This study is the first report of the presence of chironomids in Philippine P. canaliculata. This could have an impact on the allergenic status of these mollusks if consumed while containing these chironomids. The absence of infection of other medically important parasites is possibly due to the patchy distribution of the snails and few interactions with the definitive hosts of known parasites.

The first fossil Coleoptera record from the Volyn Region, Ukraine, with description of a new Glesoconomorphus (Coleoptera, Mycteridae) in syninclusion with Winterschmidtiidae (Acari) and a key to species.

Glesoconomorphusekaterinae sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Mycteridae), representing the first ever fossil species of Coleoptera from the Volyn Region of Ukraine and the first mycterid from late Eocene Rovno amber, is described and illustrated. A key to species of the fossil mycterid genus Glesoconomorphus Alekseev, Pollock & Bukejs, 2019 is presented. The systematic position of Glesoconomorphus within Eurypinae J. Thomson, 1860 is briefly discussed. The oldest finding of phoretic Winterschmidtiidae Oudemans, 1923 mites, found on the type specimen of the new beetle species, is reported.

Parasites rather than phoronts: Teratorhabditis synpapillata nematodes reduce lifespan of their Rhynchophorus ferrugineus host in a life stage-dependent manner.

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) red palm weevils are often reported in association with different organisms including nematodes. The significance of this interaction and whether nematodes can influence their life-history traits is unclear. We collected Rhynchophorus ferrugineus red palm weevils at different developmental stages and locations in Tunisia, observed and dissected them in search for nematodes and other interacting organisms, established laboratory colonies and identified the nematodes associated with them, and conducted nematode-insect interaction assays to determine the capacity of the nematodes to influence their life-history traits. We observed Beauveria bassiana fungi in larvae, nymph, and adults; Centrouropoda and Uroobovella acari associated with the adults, and Teratorhabditis synpapillata nematodes associated with larvae and adults. Nematode-insect interaction bioassays revealed that T. synpapillata nematodes reduce the lifespan of the insect larvae in a population-dependent manner, but do not influence the lifespan of adults. Our study uncovers an important factor that may determine population dynamics of this important palm pests and provides evidence to conclude that these organisms establish a parasitic relationship, rather than a phoretic relationship.

Hitchhiking or hang gliding? Dispersal strategies of two cereal-feeding eriophyoid mite species.

Dispersal shapes the dynamics of populations, their genetic structure and species distribution; therefore, knowledge of an organisms' dispersal abilities is crucial, especially in economically important and invasive species. In this study, we investigated dispersal strategies of two phytophagous eriophyoid mite species: Aceria tosichella (wheat curl mite, WCM) and Abacarus hystrix (cereal rust mite, CRM). Both species are obligatory plant parasites that infest cereals and are of economic significance. We investigated their dispersal success using different dispersal agents: wind and vectors. We hypothesised that in both mite species the main mode of dispersal is moving via wind, whereas phoretic dispersal is rather accidental, as the majority of eriophyoid mite species do not possess clear morphological or behavioural adaptations for phoresy. Results confirmed our predictions that both species dispersed mainly with wind currents. Additionally, WCM was found to have a higher dispersal success than CRM. Thus, this study contributes to our understanding of the high invasive potential of WCM.

REVIEW OF THE DAUER HYPOTHESIS: WHAT NON-PARASITIC SPECIES CAN TELL US ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF PARASITISM.

Parasitic lineages have acquired suites of new traits compared to their nearest free-living relatives. When and why did these traits arise? We can envision lineages evolving through multiple stable intermediate steps such as a series of increasingly exploitative species interactions. This view allows us to use non-parasitic species that approximate those intermediate steps to uncover the timing and original function of parasitic traits, knowledge critical to understanding the evolution of parasitism. The dauer hypothesis proposes that free-living nematode lineages evolved into parasites through two intermediate steps, phoresy and necromeny. Here we delve into the proposed steps of the dauer hypothesis by collecting and organizing data from genetic, behavioral, and ecological studies in a range of nematode species. We argue that hypotheses on the evolution of parasites will be strengthened by complementing comparative genomic studies with ecological studies on non-parasites that approximate intermediate steps.

Ectoparasites of hedgehogs: From flea mite phoresy to their role as vectors of pathogens.

Hedgehogs are synanthropic mammals, reservoirs of several vector-borne pathogens and hosts of ectoparasites. Arthropod-borne pathogens (i.e., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., and Anaplasmataceae) were molecularly investigated in ectoparasites collected on hedgehogs (n = 213) from Iran (161 Hemiechinus auritus, 5 Erinaceus concolor) and Italy (47 Erinaceus europaeus). In Iran, most animals examined (n = 153; 92.2%) were infested by ticks (Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma dromedarii), and 7 (4.2%) by fleas (Archeopsylla erinacei, Ctenocephalides felis). Of the hedgehogs infested by arthropods in Italy (i.e., 44.7%), 18 (38.3%) were infested by fleas (Ar. erinacei), 7 (14.9%) by ticks (Haemaphysalis erinacei, Rh. turanicus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato), and 6 (12.8%) by mites (Caparinia tripilis, Acarus nidicolous, Ornithonyssus spp.). Phoretic behavior of C. tripilis on Ar. erinacei was detected in two flea specimens from Italy. At the molecular analysis Rickettsia spp. was detected in 93.3% of the fleas of Italy. In Iran, Rickettsia spp. was detected in 8.0% out of 212 Rh . turanicus ticks, and in 85.7% of the Ar. erinacei fleas examined. The 16S rRNA gene for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. was amplified in 4.2% of the 212 Rh . turanicus ticks. All sequences of Rickettsia spp. from fleas presented 100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia asembonensis, whereas Rickettsia spp. from Rh. turanicus presented 99.84%-100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia slovaca, except for one sequence, identical to Rickettsia massiliae. The sequences of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 99.57%-100% nucleotide identity with Anaplasma spp., except for one, identical to Ehrlichia spp. A new phoretic association between C. tripilis mites and Ar. erinacei fleas has been herein reported, which could be an important route for the spreading of this mite through hedgehog populations. Additionally, spotted fever group rickettsiae were herein detected in ticks and fleas, and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. in ticks, suggesting that hedgehogs play a role as reservoirs for these vector-borne pathogens.